USS Enterprise (1775)
So here's the Canadian connection and its not based around it being commanded by one of William Shatner's ancestors.
The Enteprise was built in St. John's Quebed as a British Schooner or Sloop of War by the British Navy. Originally it was named the George.
In 1775 the Americans under Benedict Arnold raided the ship yard on the captured Liberty and on May 18th Arnold captured the ship yard and fort as well as the George. Two hours after the raid, the Americans left with the Geoge and it was commissioned in the United States Navy armed with 12 4 pound guns and renamed Enteprise.
The Enterprise became the flag ship of the Lake Champlain Squadron and acted as the flagship for Benedict Arnold. Control of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River would have allowed the British to cut off supply routes with New England and other colonies and lead to an attack by the British on Albany.
On August 28 1775 Enterprise and a small fleet embarked with 1000 American soldiers as part of a raid against Montreal and Quebec City. The raid was partially successful as St Johns and Montreal were captured and Quebec City was attacked, but the British re-enforced and drove the Americans from Canada.
The Enterprise next saw action in October 1776 during the Battle of Valcour Island. The American fleet under Arnold was severely outgunned and he had most of his fleet shot out from under him. He did manage to slip what he had left including Enterprise past the British Fleet at night and a 2 day running battle resulted in the loss of all except for 5 American Ships including Enterprise. The survivors then sailed onto Fort Ticonderoga.
Although the American's were heavily defeated it did disrupt the British planned invasion of New York and with the onset of Winter the British plans were delayed by a year which gave the Americans a chance to build up a defense and the British Invasion was stopped by General Gates and lead to the American Alliance with France that bought in the much needed French Navy on their side.
During the British advance on on New York the Enterprise was assigned to the evacuation of Ticonderoga, they met the British Navy on Lake Champlain and were overwhelmed. Of the 5 American ships of the squadron 2 ships were captured, Enterprise and 2 other ships ran aground on July 7, 1777 and burned to prevent their capture.
Interesting enough at that time there was another Enterprise
Enterprise (1776)
This enterprise was a 25 ton schooner that was armed with 8 guns. Originally she was a successful Privateer that was purchased by the Continental Navy in 1776. She was commanded by James Campbell and operated mostly in Chesapeake Bay as a Convoy escort as well as guarding the shores against the British.
In 1777 she was given to the Maryland Council of Safety without seeing significant action.
Its interesting to note that this Enterprise was never commissioned by the Navy because there was already an Enterprise, therefore she was never given the prefix USS and was known simply as Enteprise.
Tomorrow I'll look at the Enterprise 1799, 1831, 1874 and the SP-790.
Hopefully on Tuesday I'll write about the CV-6. On Wednesday the CVN-65 and then Thursday I'll look at the CVN-80